Festive issues of Galerius from the tetrarchic mint of Siscia more

AJN Second Series 5-6 (1993-94) © 1995 The American Numismatic Society FESTIVE ISSUES OF GALERIUS FROM THE TETRARCHIC MINT OF SISCIA (Plate 10) Pfter Kos During the period of the tetrarchies and the following tense years of rivalry between various imperial partners the typology of the post- reform aes nummi seems, at least at first glance, to be stereotypic and monotonous. A detailed analysis of the coin types according to the historical context, however, unravels a very specific meaning of the messages which were sent to the general audience by the ruling partici- pants of the turbulent years between 294 and 313, particularly from 307, through the choice of coin types and accompanying legends. Suth- erland has stated that the coinage of the period under discussion, which has often been regarded as being in "sterile and rigid contrast with the excessive laxity of third-century issues," can offer a detailed reflection of the imperial structure.' lie himself has shown and ingeniously inter- preted the historical importance of even slight variations in the selection of coin types and legends.2 Since the publication of the sixth volume of RIC the structure of the aes coinage of this period as well as the relative chronological assign- ment of various issues arc considered to be in general definitive and 1 C. H. V. Sutherland, "Some Political Notions in Coin Types between 294 and 313," JRS 53 (1963), p. 20. 2 Sutherland (ahove, n. 1), pp. 14-20. C. H. V. Sutherland, The Roman Imperial Coinage, vol. 6 (London, 1967), p. 109 (hereafter, RIC). 89 90 Peter Kos their interpretation soundly grounded. It was expected that specimens with new mintmarks would occur which could slightly change the rela- tive chronological sequence of issues, or that minor variations in the reading of legends would be documented, but it was believed that coins exhibiting major novelties in the typology could hardly be expected. However, two such unpublished aes nummi of the mint of Siscia were recently acquired by the Coin Cabinet of the National Museum in Ljubl- jana. One is a follis of Galerius with the obverse legend IMP MAXI- MIANVS P F AVG (bust right) and with a unique reverse. It shows Victory marching right with a trophy over her left shoulder and palm wreath in her right hand. The legend reads VICTORIA-A AVGG ET CAESS ; in the exergue SIS. The weight of the specimen is 7.07 g and the diameter of its dotted circle is 24 m (Plate 10, 1). At approximately the same time I had the opportunity to document a follis with a similarly styled portrait of Galerius and the same obverse legend IMP MAXI- MIANVS P F AVG, in a private collection in Sisak, Croatia. A trophy with two sitting captives is depicted on the reverse and the legend reads VIRTVS AVGG ET CAESS, with SIS in the exergue. Regretfully, it was not possible to photograph or weigh the second specimen of which only a rubbing could be quickly made (Plate 10, 2). The selection of the reverse types in the Siscia mint was conventional during the first and second tetrarchies for the central imperial mints (Rome, Ticinum, Aquileia, and Siscia). The reverse legend GENIO PO- PVLI ROMANI alternated with SACRA MONET AVGG ET CAESS NOSTR during the first tetrarchy,3 emphasizing the universal signifi- cance of Diocletian's currency reform and the concept of unity of the empire. During the second tetrarchy the reverse legends HERCVLI VIC- TORI, CONCORDIA IMPERII, IOVI CONSERVAT, and PERPETVITAS AVGG were added to the previous ones, thus reflecting the personality of the members of the second tetrarchy and also the rivalry and tension among them. PROVIDENTIA DEORVM QVIES AVGG was reserved for both senior augusti. After the introduction of the reduced nummi in the 3 A. Jelocnik, "The Alternation of Genio and Moneta Folles in the Siscia Mint," Actes du 8eme congres international de numismatique. New York-Washington 1973 (Paris-BSIe, 1976), pp. 315-26, convincingly proposed a new sequence of aes issues of the first tetrarchy. Festive Issues ov Galerius from Siscia 91 mint of Siscia the basic types were GENIO AVGVSTI and GENIO CAE- SARIS, thus indicating that the mint of Siscia was now related in its conventions and behavior to the Halkan (Heraclea, Thessalonica, Ser- dica) and Asia Minor (Nicomedia, Cyzicus) group of mints.1 It can be seen that both specimens are absolutely unique not merely within the system of the Siscia mint but, furthermore, in the acs cur- rency system of the period. The uniqueness of both specimens is deter- mined by the reverse types and legends and, above all, by the very simple mint mark SIS in the exergue. The problem, therefore, is the relative chronological placement of both specimens and the significance of their production. Jelocnik has clearly shown that the reduced folles were issued in Sis- cia in two successive series:3 whereas the folles of the first series which were struck in three officinae were defined by a wider dotted circle (24 mm), the folles of the second series were characterized by a narrower dotted circle (22 mm) and were struck in six officinae. The weight of the first specimen (7.07 g) and the diameter of the dotted circle on both specimens (24 mm) indicate that both must have been minted after the reduction of the folles had been introduced in the mint of Siscia and that both represent, the first series of the reduced nummi. It is generally agreed that the activity of the mint of Siscia was temporarily suspended after the defeat of Severus in March/April 307'' when the last unreduced folles were struck.7 According to Sutherland the mint reopened only after Licinius's elevation to Augustus at the meeting in Carnunlum in November 308" or at the very beginning of 309.'' According to Jelocnik, November 308 must to be taken as the latest possible date for the commencement of the striking of reduced folles, but he concedes the possibility that the minting of the reduced nummi could have been introduced even some months earlier."' Rruun, 4 RIC, p. 53. 3 A. Jelocnik, The Ccnlur Hoard: Folles of Maxenlius and of the. Tetrarchy, Situla 12 (Ljubljana, 1973), p. 15-1 (hereafter, Jelocnik). 6 D. Kienasl, Romische. Kaiserlabetle (Darstadt, 1990), p. 286. 7 RIC, p. 451. 8 RIC, pp. 451 and 477. 9 RIC, p. 53. 1(1 Jelocnik, p. 154. 92 Peter Kos however, reassigns the reactivation of the mint of Siscia to the very end of 308." Both specimens are further chronologically determined by the reverse legends ending with AVGG ET CAESS, clearly indicating that they must have been minted at a time when two augusti were officially ruling the empire, i.e. after the new ruling order was established by the Carnun- tum conference on November 11, 308,12 and Licinius was elevated to the rank of Augustus." A simple mint mark usually suggests the operation of a mint in only one officina. However, such simple mint marks are always characteris- tic only for the very first aes issues of the first tetrarchy in the mints of Londinium (LON), Trcveri (TR), Ticinum (T), Aquileia (AQ), Roma (R), Siscia (S), Nicomedia (SMN), and Cyzicus (KV).'4 I believe, therefore, that both nummi with the reverse legends VICTORIA AVGG ET CAESS and VIRTUS AVGG ET CAESS and with the simple mint mark SIS repre- sent the initial issues of the reduced nummi after a long span of nearly 20 months during which the mint was not active. Bruun's argument1''1 that the reactivation of the mint began with the production of the nummus of Galerius with the reverse legend GENIO AVGVSTI and the unique mint mark SISu (Plate 10,3) must be rejected.16 This should rather be regarded as the succeeding emission. In the mint of Thessaslonica which closed in 303 with the issue GENIO POPVLI ROMANI and reopened after the elevation of Licinius, it can be seen that the first issues were GENIO AVGVSTI and GENIO CAESARIS.17 In the mint of Serdica, which was the main mint of Ga- " P. Bruun, "Centur Revisited. Notes on the Aes Coinage of the Mint of Siscia under Licinius (AD 308-313)," Studia Numismalica Labacensia Alexandro Jelofnik Oblala (Ljubljana, 1988), p. 131 (hereafter, "Centur Revisted"). 12 For discussion of the conference in Carnuntum, see Jclofcnik, p. 153, and P. Bruun, "The Negotiations of the Conference of Carnuntum," NAC 8, 1979, pp. 255-78. 13 H. Chantraine, "Die Erhebung des Licinius zum Augustus," Hermes 110 (1982), pp. 477-87. 14 RIC, pp. 123 (Londinium), 179 (Treveri), 283 (Ticinium), 313 (Aquileia), 355 (Rome), 463 (Siscia), 556 (Nicomedia), and 579 (Cyzicus). 15 "Centur Revisited," p. 131. 16 A. Jelodnik - P. Kos, The Cenlur-C Hoard. Folks ofMaxentius and of the Tetrar- chy, Situla 23 (Ljubljana, 1983), p. 76, 449. " RIC, 30a-32b. Festivi; Issues of Galerius from Siscia 93 lerius before and during the conference of Carnuntum,18 the GENIO AVGVSTI issue also immediately followed the GENIO POPVLI ROMANI emission.The issues VICTORIA AVGG ET CAESS and VIRTVS AVGG ET CAES are in this respect intrusions in the tetrarchic aes coinage system, the more so because of the presence of a very simple mint mark. Both issues must therefore be regarded as intrusive exceptional festive issues of this Licinian mint, honoring Galerius as senior augustus and reflecting the grateful attitude of the newly promoted Licinius towards Galerius. Both reverse legends are unusual and unique. VIRTVS AVGG ET CAESS is documented only for the mint of Siscia, and that was on aurei of Severus and Maximinus of the period from 306 to 307 and accom- panied by different reverse types.2*1 VICTORIA AVGG ET CAESS is unknown in the currency system of the period under discussion but the reverse legend VICTORIA AVGG appears, again, only on aurei of Maxi- minus of the mint of Siscia issued after 311 and with a different reverse type as that on aes nummus.21 Could there be any particular reason for such distinctive uniqueness in the selection of types for these Siscian aes nummi'? The results of the conference in Carnuntum, held on Galerius's initia- tive under the auspices of Diocletian,''2 were doubtless regarded as a strong and decisive victory of Galerius's diplomatic skill. In spite of the unsuccessful Italian campaign against Maxentius in the preceeding period he succeeded, at least for a short time, in reestablishing the tetrarchic order according to his own plans which he had earlier failed to accomplish on the battlefield. Maximian was denied the right to rule actively, Maximinus and Constantine were to remain caesars, and Ga- lerius's protegee Licinius was appointed augustus without previously having been caesar. It is to this diplomatic victory that the reverse legend VICTORIA AVGG ET CAESS obviously refers. Victory with tro- phy and wreath, an unknown and therefore exceptional type in the currency system of the tetrarchies, clearly reflects the triumphant feel- 18 Kruun. "Centur Revisited," p. 131. w RIC pp. 497-500. 20 RIC, 153-55. 21 RIC, 219. 22 For details, see Chanlraine (above, n. 13). 94 Peter Kos ings of both augusti, Galerius and Licinius. The significance of the event was underlined by the VIRTVS AVGG ET CAESS issue, again show- ing the triumphant scene, a trophy with two captives. Since Siscia, as the administrative center of Savia which was together with the other Pannonian provinces assigned to Licinius by the Carnun- tum conference, became his chief mint, it is reasonable to expect that in this mint the festive aes issues for Galerius, the senior augustus, were struck after a long period of idleness when the mint had been closed as a result of Maxentius's revolt and the extension of his power eastwards. Maxentius, however, never effectively possessed the mint itself. The concern for the outcome of the conference particularly in Pan- nonia and the relief with which Siscia, after long months of threat from Maxentius, greeted its conclusion are reflected in a broad spectrum of reverse types on the gold coinage, in contrast lo the mints of Thessalonica, Heraclea, Nicomedia, and Cyzicus where gold coins were scarcely minted immediately after the creation of a new ruling order. Simultaneously with both festive aes issues under discussion, among others, the reverse legends VIRTVS AVGG presenting the new Augustus as the peaceful possessor of military power,*' and SECVRITAS AVGG with quadriga type, which may reflect the formal entry of Licinius into Siscia,24 appear on gold coins. Jelocnik suggested by analogy with the mints of Serdica, Cyzicus, Antioch, and Alexandria the possibility of the minting of reduced folles in Siscia without Licinius some months before his rise, i.e. before November 11, 308.25 Both specimens forcefully contradict the assump- tion that reduced nummi had been struck before the elevation of Li- cinius, since the minting of both coins must be placed at the very begin- ning of the coining of reduced nummi, i.e. immediately after the reopening of the mint. A very simple mint mark indicates striking in only one officina and indirectly predicates that the span of idleness of the mint had been significant and lasted well over an entire year. The evidence offered by both specimens, therefore, clearly rejects the effec- tuation of reduction in Siscia earlier than November 308. 23 RIC, 197. 21 RIC, 195. 25 Jelocnik, p. 153. Festive Issues of Galerius from Siscia 95 The portrait on both specimens, however, stylistically differs consid- erably from the portrait of Galerius on the supposedly first reduced nummi, which shows a massive head of Galerius with an emphasized lower part of the face and lower jaw (Plate 10, 3). For Bruun this was a sign that at that time Licinius was not yet in charge of the central empire, and only when Licinius took over the administration would the portraits of Galerius become contaminated by the features of Licinius.26 I believe, however, that the analysis of the development of the por- trait's execution is ovcrstressed and that there is no sound argument in favor of the reopening of the Siscia mint at a time when Licinius was not yet in charge of Pannonia. The supposedly new issue of reduced nummi with the reverse legend GENIO AVGVSTI and with a developed mint mark but still minted in only one officina27 must therefore be a representative of a successive issue to both festive issues under discussion. It preceded the issue GENIO AVGVSTI, struck in three olficinae,28 which was later followed by an issue minted in six officinae.29 I propose, therefore, in parallel to the simple and logical progressive development of mint marks during the first tetrarchy,'" the following system of aes issues after the reopen- ing of the Siscia mint in November 308. Sequence of Issues Issue Mini mark Reverse type 1 SIS VICTORIA AVGG ET CAESS 2 SIS VIRTVS AVGG ET CAESS 3(?) SISy GENIO AVGVSTI i SISu A-r GENIO AVGVSTI 5 SISu A-S GENIO AVGVSTI 26 Uruun, "Centur Revisited,'" p. 132. 27 Jelocnik-Kos. (above, n. 16), p. .'$8, however, warned that the existence of this new emission musl lie confirmed liy more specimens. 28 HIC, 198-200. 29 RIC, 207-209. 30 .lelocnik (above, n. 3), p. 320. 96 Peter Kos Numismatic evidence leads to the conclusion that the mint of Siscia resumed its operation with the introduction of the reduction imme- diately after Licinius took charge of Pannonia which he must have hon- ored with his personal presence in Siscia. It was on that occasion that the aurei of the SECVRITAS AVGG type were minted and both festive aes issues were released into circulation. Plate 10 Issues of Galerius from Siscia